Happiness is a Warm Keyboard

Talking to the strange

2011-01-07T09:17:00.031-04:00

My day job as a reporter often requires me to deal with irate people.
Sometimes they're upset with me, although not very often.
Usually, they're upset about some perceived injustice done upon them or someone they know. Sometimes the injustice is a real one, other times it's been exaggerated by the caller.
In the latter case, I'm understanding. Who hasn't been in a situation where a problem arises and it seems worse than it actually is.
Every now and then, however, I'm required to deal with someone's rant.
So how do I separate the story from the fact I can't take this person seriously? Or the fact that I find what they're saying offensive?
It's a dilemma I don't have to deal with very often, but it does come up from time to time.
When it does, I suppose the toughest thing to remember is that I'm not engaging this person in a debate or an argument. I'm simply listening, writing down what they're saying and throwing out a question now and then for clarification (and to let them know I'm still listening.)
But when it comes time to write a story based on such an interview, it becomes difficult. It's like separating the wheat from the chaff. I have to pick out the ideas that follow the story and put them together into something coherent.
Beyond that, I also have to worry about the possibility of a lawsuit. I mean, I can't just print something because I want to. It has to be true.
So I have to listen to people who tell me someone is conspiring against them, nod politely, and keep thinking to myself that I'll get myself a coffee as a reward for suffering through the insanity.

Fulfill the dream

2011-01-06T21:55:00.004-04:00

Author's note: This is based on a personal dream involving my favourite hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs. I decided against using the actual name of the team in case I ever turn this into something more.

Chris couldn't explain why he was an Aces fan. Friends asked him all the time, and all he could say was that he'd never known anything else.
What made his choice of teams unusual was the fact they were atrocious, had been so since long before Chris was born, and looked as though they would be for the foreseeable future.
"Why did you pick such a crappy team?" was the question he had to answer at least once a week.
His response was often something like "My grandfather's been a fan all his life and he got me interested."
Always because of Grampy, who actually remembered the last time the team won the championship.
But Chris really had different thoughts when it came to his favourite team.
Some day I'm going to own that team. Someday I'm going to give this city a winner.
Chris was nothing if not a dreamer. He'd had this notion in his head since he was a little boy. He would run that team.
He'd hear people say they could run the team better than the clowns in charge, but they were usually just blowing off steam following another loss by the sad-sack group.
Chris would be the first to admit he was as guilty of the bellyaching as the next fan, but he was the only armchair coach/owner who had a plan to actually run the team.
Luck would certainly play a part in his plan, but then, when doesn't it?
But this would require something more. It would need ambition, hard work and the willingness to give up other things in order to achieve the goal.
Despite the complexity of achieving it, his goal was simple.
Chris was going to become the owner of the Aces, and bring a championship banner to his beloved team, the first in nearly half a century.
He kept it to himself to avoid the ridicule that was sure to accompany such a bold statement. But he knew he could do it. He knew he could bring an end to the ineptitude that had plagued his favourite team for so long.
He just needed to work out how.

Choke: A Hockey Story

2011-01-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

I have witnessed one of the worst choke-jobs in sports history. The Canadian team at the 2011 World Junior Championships blew a 3-0 lead after two periods and lost 5-3 in the gold medal game to Russia.

Now, obviously receiving a medal at an event like this is an extraordinary accomplishment. And Canada does it year after year.

But this team LOST the gold medal. I refuse to celebrate a second-place finish in a team sport. Silver in team sports means you lost the final. End of story.

This team dominated 40 minutes of play, then got cocky, sat back, and the Russians made them pay dearly. The winning team took nothing for granted.

What makes that even more astounding is the fact Canada was considered an underdog entering this tournament. The USA was the pre-tournament favourite to defend their title. Canada beat them in the semifinals, but they blew it when it really mattered.

I'd rather play for a bronze, at least then you've won something. Team Canada gets a silver because they blew it. It's like awarding abject failure.

Maybe I've been too harsh because the loss is so fresh in my mind (I'm watching the medals being handed out as I write this), but this is still our game. And now it's two years running we've lost the gold.

I think another problem, at least from my perspective, is the memory of Sidney Crosby's golden goal in Vancouver is still very fresh in my mind. That was one of the greatest moments in Canadian sports history and it still brings a smile to face when I watch a replay. That team brought a country together.

This team just pissed off 30 million people because they choked.

This team became arrogant. And because of that, they missed an opportunity to bring home a gold medal.

A knock and strange triangles

2011-01-04T23:03:00.049-04:00

"What does this have to do with me?" I asked.
That's the question I find myself asking when these conspiracy theorists bring me there wild ideas about some lost artifact that they claim will change our world forever.
"This is what I get for opening the door," I thought.
It's a mistake I make all the time. Every time someone comes calling at my office door I can't resist. I can't take the chance that this time it might be something worthwhile.
But every time, I'm disappointed, and sometimes mildly irritated that these people waste my time with their ridiculous ideas.
Like the guy who came in a few months ago, claiming he had information that would lead to a secret energy source that would solve the problem of the world's dwindling oil reserves.
I looked at him and told him he was the third person in a week to come to me with that idea. I admit, I lied to him. He was actually the sixth, but I wanted to spare his feelings a little.
But this time, for the first time in months, I was intrigued, even if only slightly.
"Look, this could fundamentally change the way we look at our world," the visitor said.
"I'm sure it could, but you haven't answered my question. I still want to know what this has to do with me."
The visitor paused and looked at the paper he'd been explaining to me. It was worn and faded, but I could still make out the image of a stylized triangle.
I took a closer look at the faded image. There was something familiar about it.
"I'll be damned," I whispered. "That's impossible."
The visitor sat down across from me, smiling.
"I told you it would be worth your while."
He was right. When I looked at that image, I saw something I thought I'd never see outside my parents' notebooks. I thought it was just something they'd doodled over and over, the same way I drew little trees when I was lost in thought.
But this, this was different. As far as I knew, this design had been exclusive to my parents imaginations and their doodles.
"You need to tell me where you found this. Right now."
"Perhaps a drink is in order? We've got a lot to talk about," my visitor said.
For once, I was glad I'd answered the knock at my door.

Legalized Insanity

2011-01-03T23:39:00.000-04:00

Robin Williams has made a career of stream-of-consciousness comedy. He just picks up on an idea, starts riffing and an hour later ends somewhere totally different. Listen to his 1986 performance at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, or his Live on Broadway performance in 2002.

Or this clip from his appearance on Inside the Actor's Studio.

He just starts with a simple thing and continues to riff throughout the interview. It's such a natural thing.

I'm a big fan of Williams and his comedy. I'm sure he works hard to put together his performances, but he also has a knack for improvisation, and the rapid-fire delivery has always amazed me.

I'm not on his level, and likely never will be. But it's an inspiration to me.

Tomorrow, I'm going to write something. I don't have any idea what it will be, but I'm just going to sit down and write for half an hour and see what I come up with.

Check back here to see what I come up with.

The original

2011-01-02T23:23:00.001-04:00

It's tough to come up with an original idea. I mean, hasn't everything been thought of already?

English author and journalist Christopher Booker wrote a book called The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories, which distilled everything ever written down to seven plots: overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, voyage and return, comedy, tragedy and rebirth.

So how do I come up with something original if there's only those seven stories? Seems tough. Especially when you look around pop culture today and see nothing but remakes, sequels or adaptations. How does a writer come up with something original?

I've been exposed to a massive amount of pop culture in my life, almost 25 years. Everything from Sesame Street to Star Wars, all kinds of music and literature. Surely it's impacted my thinking and my imagination. Where do I come up with something new and different.

I guess it's a matter of taking one of those seven plots and adding my own twists to the idea. I've been reading some articles about free-writing; just sitting down and putting words on paper or on the computer screen. No self-editing or anything, just see what comes out. And I see the value in such an exercise. It's like brainstorming.

It's a matter of keeping a notepad or something with me at all times so I can write an idea down when it comes to me. I just need to do this.

I'm not fooling myself. I realize this is going to be tough, but it's something I need to do. I know I have some good ideas, I just need to get them from my head to the page.

The first link

2011-01-01T21:07:00.005-04:00

This blog has been sorely neglected. When I last posted, I was all gung-ho on trying to write a novel. That went nowhere fast, and the idea has basically fluttered away on the breeze.

I need to write more. I had a conversation with a friend recently. We talked about a lot of things, including my unhappiness with my current job. I was basically told I had to stop bitching and moaning about my problems and just do something about them.

I read something today about Jerry Seinfeld's key to productivity. You can read the article here if you want. Basically it's about doing something daily, whatever it is you're trying to improve or achieve. Build a chain.

I may not write a lot every day, but I have to write something. I still want to write something big, but now I'm not going to limit myself to a novel. Why not a screenplay? Why not a play? As my friend suggested, "Just write an instruction manual. Write something."

I've tried in the past, and always failed at it. I'm not going to. This year, I start and I don't stop. I'm taking control of my life.

-BT

A brief aside...

2009-09-17T13:56:00.004-03:00

Just a brief thought before delving into novel-writing.

President Obama called Kanye West a "jackass" after the singer interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the the MTV Video Music Awards.

The comment was made in a conversation with a reporter from CNBC. It was overheard by a reporter from ABC. The conversation was apparently off the record. It made out into the world.

Why the fuss? The most powerful man in the world offered an opinion (I think, the correct one) on the antics of a spoiled, arrogant, tactless musician. Much like millions of others around the world, he spoke up. The only reason it's a big deal is because he's the President of the United States.

Let's move on, but not before offering kudos to President Obama for speaking his mind, and to the ABC employee who tweeted the quote. Welcome to the world of new media folks.

Here goes nothing...

2009-09-15T11:43:00.000-03:00

I love poker.

I love to play poker. I love to watch poker on television. It's a fantastic game. I play it online and, whenever possible, play live. Online, the game provides a relatively mindless distraction along with allowing you to improve the math skills (calculating pot odds, counting outs, etc.) involved in poker. Playing live is an opportunity to get together with friends, share a few laughs, enjoy a few adult beverages, and (hopefully) win a lot of money from your friends.

I'm by no means a great player myself. I've definitely improved over the past few years, but I'm still what would be charitably described as a moderately-skilled amateur. I've no ambitions to ever be a person who can make a living playing a game, but it's a good way to relax and unwind.

But I've thought about it, turning poker playing into a career. It was certainly never more than a little imagination run wild, but it's something I've thought about. Realistically, the only thing I ever want to do in terms of entering the larger poker world would be participate in the main event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). For anyone unfamiliar with the event, it's a $10,000 buy-in event, where the game is No Limit Texas Hold 'Em. It's really the only game on television, because it's the easiest to explain and understand.

Participating in that event remains a dream, albeit a tough one to follow.

Then I got to thinking (yes, that is what the burning smell has been). There are other ways to pursue this dream.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've wanted to try my hand at writing a book for a few years. The notion festered for awhile in the back of my mind, but recently, it found a spot near the top of my to-do list. Much like my poker skills, it may be something that will never become a serious pursuit. But unlike poker playing, this is something I feel I have a legitimate shot doing.

So as I tried to come up with an idea, I found myself playing online poker, just as a way to get the creative juices flowing. And it hit me.

Why not try writing a poker novel?

Not exactly the most brilliant idea ever, but I figured I might as well start with something relatively easy, something I'm familiar with.

So over the next few weeks, I'm going to post some bits of writing that will (hopefully) turn in to a poker novel. I've already written most of a beginning.

Follow along as I try my hand at the Great Canadian Novel :P

With the stroke of a pen...

2009-07-25T23:44:00.004-03:00

I've always wanted to try my hand at writing a book. Specifically a novel. Non-fiction is great, and I read a lot of it, but I don't think I'm enough of an authority on anything to write a non-fiction book.

It's been something that's been sitting in the back of my mind for years, but I've never really done anything with the idea. My mother sometimes says I should write a book, and maybe build a career like Michael Patterson in "For Better or For Worse." He started out as a journalist, worked his way up to a magazine editor, and eventually had a novel published. Sure, he's just a character in a comic strip, but that doesn't mean I can't do the same thing.

I want to write something for myself. Not necessarily drawn from my own experiences, although that would certainly be part of it.

So I'm going to start posting some ideas on here, just as a way to get feedback. Later on, I'll post some samples of what I come up with.

All of this is hopefully going to lead to participating in National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November. It's another of those things I look at every year and think "I should do this." This year, it's going to be "I'm doing this."

I should be posting the first ideas in the next week or so. I've got a few written down, and I'm going to flesh them out a bit, and then post them here. I'm sure many will be garbage, but that's the nature of writing. Much of it ends up being worthless, but buried in all the detritus can be something mind-blowing. Time for me to find that something.

-BT

Out of that rut

2009-07-20T17:54:00.004-03:00

Ever feel like you're in a rut? I mean, the kind of rut that takes forever to get out of, and often requires a boost.

I'm in that kind of rut right now. Stuck in a job I hate, stuck in a town I desperately want out of, and seemingly no way out.

It's weird how people get into these positions in life. Quite often, you don't see it coming. You're just cruising along, when all of a sudden...BANG!...There's that rut I mentioned.

Although, sometimes, you don't notice you're in the rut. Sometimes there isn't an obvious sign of the rut. You only notice when you try and change direction.

I went along like that for awhile. The signs were there. I started to hate getting up and go to work. That's the worst part. This was my career choice, and I haven't been at it for a year yet, but I hate it and want out.

There have been several times over the past few months that have led me to this point. Just things at work, little things, that have gradually piled up and become a monster. I've reached the point where I've circled a date on the calendar, and written "new job by today."

My job has sucked the will to write out of me. It's a chore for me to write anything, whether for work or for myself. I had to force myself to write this post, as I've had to do with many of the posts on this blog.

But today, something gave me a boost out of the rut. I don't what it was, but I came home from work in a foul mood, which has got me thinking, and got me planning, which is more than I've done in awhile.

I took this job because I was desperate and this was the first place that offered to hire me. The next one won't be that way.

-BT

Circle those bandwagons

2009-05-19T18:38:00.012-03:00

When's the right time to jump on a bandwagon? Are there different levels of bandwagon jumping? Why do people take so much grief for jumping on and off a bandwagon?

Sports fans can be a fickle lot. They get behind the hot team, but disappear as soon as the team struggles. With a snap of the fingers, they'll turn on the team.

This phenomenon has been especially prevalent in various markets over the years. The New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Celtics. Actually, let's just say the Boston sports market except for Bruins fans. The other teams have definite jumpers, both on and off. There are some who follow the Montreal Canadiens. There are definitely many, many jumpers who followed the Tampa Bay Rays on their magical run to a berth in the World Series last year.

There are also those who don't jump on and off, but support their team through thick and thin. The best example would have to be Chicago Cubs fans. Last championship for the Cubbies? 1908. Not many people still alive who saw them win their last title. Cubs fans are the most die hard of die hard. Die hard fans are those who follow a team through long droughts, like the Cubs, the Chicago Blackhawks, and my beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. Of course, within those groups there are bandwagon jumpers and/or sheep who follow for no good reason, but for the most part, these teams have fans who live through the bad times with boundless optimism, and uttering over and over the mantra, "Just wait 'til next year."

Some hardcore sports fans can't stand the ones who jump on the wagon when the team suddenly starts doing well. And some hate the ones who jump off when the team begins to under-perform after a period of success.

So is there a good time to jump on or off a bandwagon?

Obviously, if you're just getting interested in a particular sport, it can certainly be okay to jump on a particular team's bandwagon. If you've never followed a team or sport before, it's certainly a unique situation. Some people start following a team because of a relative. My grandfather has been a fan of the Maple Leafs for much of his life. I began following the Leafs when I was a little kid. That situation is an acceptable one for bandwagon jumping. Or if it's just a case of suddenly following a sport because you saw a game and start following one of the participating teams, I couldn't really fault you for that either. I've done it myself.

It's nothing that's ever going to change. There will always be people jumping on and off when their local team suddenly becomes the hot ticket or implodes into mediocrity. That's the nature of sports. I just want people to admit it, rather than say they've followed a team for years, meaning they occasionally check standings and bitch/cheer because the team is winning/losing.

-BT

Employed in a dying industry

2009-03-07T20:05:00.009-04:00

It's a terrifying thing, wondering if or when you might lose your job.

The Halifax Chronicle-Herald recently laid off two dozen reporters and editors. Two dozen. I'm not sure how big the staff at the paper is, but two dozen sounds like a lot to me. I work at a paper where there aren't even two dozen employees between all the departments. There are six people in our newsroom, half of them editors.

I compare the paper I work for to the Chronicle-Herald simply because of similar situations. The Chronicle-Herald lost its competition, the Daily News, last year. My paper lost its competition, the Carleton Free Press, in the past few months.

On a story from The Coast the stories of a few laid-off reporters from the grand ole Halifax daily are told. And it was heartbreaking. Some of these people are like me. Relatively new to the journalism industry. Just brushed aside by the corporate honchos. It's shocking.

Now the word comes down that CBC is planning on dumping some 800 employees. So when even the national broadcaster is cutting people loose, what chance does someone at a community-based, twice-weekly paper have?

People want to save the media, particularly newspapers. The print media is struggling to stay afloat. The Rocky Mountain News closed, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer shut down the print operations, San Francisco almost became the first city in North America without a major daily newspaper.

Newspapers have failed to evolve with the rest of the media. Some have figured out bits and pieces, putting together multimedia packages for websites. In fact, the Rocky Mountain News produced a fantastic video detailing the death of that historic publication. But many papers have yet to learn their lessons. This is the 21st century. When the internet provides 24-hour, up to the minute news, why would you read a paper, particularly a weekly? Why not get your news online?

I'm all for the salvation of newspapers. I enjoy having the physical product in my hands, but why should I pay for information I can get online for free? It makes no sense.

The other problem is a newspaper that essentially ignores the internet. Like the one I work for. The website for this paper, and every paper owned by this company, is utter garbage. It's simply the print edition stories posted online, in a difficult to navigate, ugly interface. We just got an award for having the second best website in Canada for a paper this size. Which suggests to me at least we're not alone in not having a clue about the website.

Like I said, a terrifying thing.

-BT

Comedian extraordinaire

2009-02-13T20:34:00.006-04:00

I'm a big fan of Colin Mochrie, the Canadian comedian probably best known for his long-running gigs on the American and British versions of the improv comedy show "Whose Line is it Anyway?"

Well, a friend of mine apparently saw Colin doing the weather on CP24, the local news program in Toronto. The man is the Canadian answer to Samuel L. Jackson. He pops up in everything.

So in honour of Mr. Mochrie, I present a version of the classic game "Hoedown" from the British "Whose Line", which was performed in honour of him. Colin is well known for his skill at the game, and often finishes his verse with an excellent pun.

Enjoy.

Crazy Motherf***ers

2009-02-09T21:42:00.004-04:00

Just a short post on the stupidity of a certain demographic.

Transport truck drivers.

Sunday evening, I was making the drive from Woodstock to Quispamsis, in what would charitably be described as a blizzard. Poor visibility, slick roads, not really a good night to be driving.

So imagine how I felt, seeing this giant truck coming up in my mirror, doing normal highway speed, or above.

I realize these trucks are a little more secure than a small vehicle, but they also don't exactly stop on a dime, and they certainly don't handle like a small vehicle. So if I can only manage 70-80 km/h on a four-lane highway, these idiots shouldn't be going any faster than me, never mind 40 or 50 more.

So how about our law enforcement officials maybe take a stand against this kind of dangerous behaviour? I know it's a bad idea to drive in bad weather like that, but sometimes it's necessary. So for those of us forced to share the road with these maniacs, do a little to protect us.

-BT

Six more weeks? Or is it just a month and a half?

2009-02-02T15:44:00.004-04:00

Groundhog Day is more than just a comedy classic starring Bill Murray. It's an annual tradition where we gather around various holes in the ground to see if the furry forecasters will doom us to another six weeks of winter or not.

This year, many of the more famous prognosticators, including Nova Scotia's own Shubenacadie Sam, were spooked by their shadow, so we get another six weeks of winter.

Now, I'm all for tradition, and I've always thought this one was kind of cute. But let's not kid ourselves. Winter ends when it ends. Officially, that'll be March 20th. But I live in Canada, which means winter ends sometime in April or even May. Tradition or not, unfortunately, the little guys can't really relieve the misery that is a Canadian winter any sooner.

Although, if there's any scientists out there, maybe you could find some way to actually link the end of winter to the groundhog's shadow?

Just a thought...

-BT

A little piece of history

2009-01-20T21:43:00.003-04:00

For your viewing pleasure. Some of the talking heads say it isn't "memorable", but I think they're missing the point. Enjoy.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Hail to the Chief

2009-01-20T16:35:00.005-04:00

It's been a rough couple of weeks for your humble scribe. Getting back to work after the holidays sucked a lot out of me. But never fear, for I've been inspired, and have returned after my absence.

Barack Hussein Obama was inaugurated today, becoming the 44th President of the United States, and ending eight years of the retarded child emperor, George W. Bush.

As a Canadian, watching the inauguration made me long for the kind of leader that my neighbours to the south find themselves welcoming. Obviously, we have a different system of government, and our prime minister isn't the same kind of figure as a U.S. president. But still, our leader is supposed to be the face of our country, and should inspire the Canadian people.

Instead, we find ourselves with a button-down accountant as our leader. Just as Bush will likely be remembered as the worst president in American history, Stephen Harper may be remembered as the dullest prime minister in Canadian history.

As Obama spoke to the two million plus people in Washington, and the millions (maybe billions) watching on television, I got the sense that things were going to be okay. Maybe not right away, but eventually. When Stephen Harper speaks, I have to fight the urge to yawn.

I'm proud to be a Canadian. But recently, I've started to think it might not be so bad to be an American. It would mean living in a country where people actually care what their politicians say and do. In Canada, apathy is slowly becoming more prominent.

We need an Obama of our own.

Happy New Year

2009-01-02T13:21:00.008-04:00

"Another year over, a new one just begun"

I rang in 2009 in a very different way from 2008. Last year, I was at Disney World, watching the fireworks at Epcot, surrounded by thousands of people. This year, I spent the evening at a small gathering, enjoying the company of a dozen or so people.

Celebrating the beginning of another year, one often pauses to look back at the year gone by, and I'm no different. I figured I'd put together a list of some of the most memorable events of 2008.

In no particular order:

The New York Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, winning 17-14, in perhaps the greatest upset in the history of pro sports.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama is elected the 44th president of the United States on Nov. 4, becoming the first African-American elected to the office. Obama picked up 365 electoral votes, soundly defeating Arizona Senator John McCain.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to Canada's First Nation peoples for the residential school system.
The 2008 Summer Olympics take place in Beijing in August. American swimmer Michael Phelps wins a record eight gold medals. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt sets two world records in the 100 and 200 metre dashes, and makes it look easy.
Canada's opposition parties attempt to defeat the Conservative government and form a coalition government. Prime Minister Harper manages to hold off the coalition until at least the end of January, after convincing the Governor-General to suspend Parliament.
A global financial crisis, drawing comparisons to the Great Depression, sends world economies spiralling downward.
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers renewed their rivalry, meeting for the first time in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. The Celtics defeated the Lakers four games to two, winning their league record 17th title, and first since 1986.
An outbreak of the bacteria listeriosis from a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Ontario, led to a massive product recall, and at least 20 deaths.

Some good, some bad, some just ridiculous. That was 2008 in a nutshell.

On a personal level, there were a few highlights. I graduated from university and got my first job in journalism.

And what about 2009? Unfortunately, I can't predict the future. If I could I'd be out buying lottery tickets right now.

I have some hopes of my own, and some things I'd like to accomplish. I've made New Year's resolutions in the past, but I usually can't keep them. They're quite often too much to handle. This year, I decided to make a short list, mostly of easy resolutions to keep, things that really won't be difficult, but will certainly improve my life. That's what I think a resolution should be about, making yourself better. With that in mind, I'll share a few of my New Year's resolutions.

Read at least two books a month. I used to read a lot. But through university, I just couldn't find the time to read for pleasure. Now, I have more time. I'm working a regular job, with regular hours, so I want to take the time and get back into reading. I won't limit myself to two, but I figure two books in 30 days is reasonable.
Watch more old movies. I watch a fair number of movies, but it's mostly films from the last 15-20 years. There's so many of those great old classics out there, from the Golden Age, that I've never seen. Even as recently as the 1960s and 70s. From my perspective, those are relatively old movies, and there's some real classics out there. Part of this resolution will probably involve watching the American Film Institute's top 100 movies of all time. (see list here)
Go to the gym at least three times a week. I've been an irregular visitor to the gym as of late. Three times a week is a good start, as I try to get back into a regular workout routine. As the year progresses, the number will certainly increase. Three times a week probably won't include any time I spend swimming either.
Kick the caffeine habit. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I tend to have at least one a day, and more often than not, at least two cups. It's really just something I want to do for myself. It upsets my stomach, and leads to acid reflux (TMI perhaps). I'll be drinking much more green tea in 2009.
Move on to a job in Ontario. I work in Woodstock, a town of 5,000 people. This is not my final destination, by any stretch of the imagination. Since I started on my career path as a journalist, my ultimate goal has always been to work in Ontario, specifically Toronto. Whether it's for one of the major newspapers like the Globe and Mail or the Toronto Star, or for a magazine, a radio station, or anything else media-related, When I write a similar post to this as we ring in 2010, I fully intend to be writing about my experiences in the big city.

A new year, new possibilities, new challenges. Sounds a little corny and cliche, but it is what it is. Hopefully, the year past was a good one for you, and 2009 brings good things as well. If you're interested, share your thoughts on 2008 and 2009 in the comments.

Happy New Year to one and all.

-BT

Niles rocks out

2008-12-30T13:01:00.000-04:00

Boxing Day Madness

2008-12-29T14:25:00.000-04:00

So the economy is in the tank. And maybe you're one of those unfortunate souls who is really struggling because of it.

So does that mean you didn't bother with the Boxing Day sales in your area?

From what I saw in Saint John, not so much.

I went out on Dec. 27 (Boxing Day being a "Day of Rest" in New Brunswick), and went to a few stores. And what I saw were people who were still spending just as much on electronics and clothes and everything else that might have been on sale for ridiculous prices.

For myself, it meant spending $100 on DVDs at HMV. There were some steals in that store. My friend Kyla found a collector's edition box set of E.T. The set has two versions of the movie, a book with photos, annotated script pages, and a frame from the film itself. Regular $100. Kyla picked it up for $6. I can't even fathom how it came to be reduced by that much, but there it is.

There were deals everywhere, and I was surprised to see so many people out spending money in these tough economic times. But then something crossed my mind.

Maybe everyone waited until after Christmas to buy the really nice gifts for friends and family members.

Think about it. My youngest brother got an XBOX 360, which cost around $300. Toys 'R Us was selling the unit on Dec. 27 for about $240.

So why wouldn't you wait until after Christmas to buy yourself a brand new video game console, or a giant plasma television? Why not wait to buy some movies or music until they're on sale for a couple of bucks.

Sure, retailers lose money on merchandise when it's on sale for the crazy reduced prices seen during Boxing Day sales, but it almost has to balance out in the end. They had less business leading up to Dec. 25, when prices were more or less what they'd be any other time of the year, but then they sell boatloads of merchandies between Dec. 26 and New Year's. Granted, it's at much lower prices, but they're selling more.

So maybe the economy is struggling. And maybe some of those who bought brand new, 50" LCD televisions will see them repossessed in six months. But for now, it seems the consumer mentality is alive and well in North America.

Long live the credit card!

-BT

Happy Holidays

2008-12-24T16:14:00.001-04:00

Merry Christmas, or whatever other holiday you may celebrate at this time of year, to you and yours.

Absolute genius

2008-12-09T11:41:00.000-04:00

My country's leader is a chicken

2008-12-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

Stephen Harper is a wimp.

Harper managed to put off his political death at least until the end of January. He asked Canada's Governor-General to prorogue, or suspend, Parliament, and she granted his request. So rather than facing a confidence vote on December 8, now he gets to hold on to power while our country's economy goes to hell. Hopefully he spends the next two months figuring out how to fix it rather than how to screw the opposition parties.

Harper has gone from being the bully to the victim. All of a sudden, the nerdy wimps he's picked on for the last three years have decided to stand up and fight back. Too bad they didn't do it during the election campaign, but better late than never.

And to those of you who say the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition wouldn't be legitimate, I suggest you take a look at our constitution. This country doesn't elect a head of government the way the United States does. In a minority government, if the majority (in this case, the opposition parties) can show they have the support of the house to govern, then they should govern. What Harper is doing is what is illegitimate and undemocratic. He's running from the people's representatives. He's so afraid of losing his job and losing his grip on power, he's decided to take his ball and go home, and hope the other kids will lose interest in the meantime.

All the prime minister has done is delay the inevitable. Come January 2009, he'll still be out of a job. And then we'll either see a coalition government, or we'll have yet another election. Either way, Harper's days as prime minister are numbered. If the opposition can't get rid of him, his own party will show him the door.

Some thoughts on football: NFL vs. CFL

2008-11-23T21:40:00.001-04:00

I find myself watching the Grey Cup game this evening. For those not in the know, the Grey Cup is the trophy handed out to the champion in the Canadian Football League.

I find myself watching this game, after watching a barn burner of an NFL game this afternoon between New England and Miami, and I find myself really thinking about the differences between the two games. Of course there's the obvious things, like the different rules (Canadian football has three downs instead of the NFL's four) and the odd scoring plays (rouges anyone?).

But there are some subtle differences as well, and Americans and anyone who prefers the NFL-style game might overlook, whether by choice or because they choose to ignore them.

The Canadian game is faster, with more agile players. It's a rare NFL quarterback who can scramble and pick up a first down. There are at least eight or nine of them in the CFL who can do that, and there are only eight teams! You see much more competitive games. Blowouts aren't as common, which makes for more exciting games.

Most importantly, it's a game that truly belongs to us as Canadians. Except for a brief foray into U.S. expansion (which failed spectacularly), all the teams are in Canada. Sure, there are Americans in the game, but it's still ours. And these teams, especially those in Saskatchewan and Alberta, and I suppose the one in Montreal, have some of the most loyal, rabid fan bases in professional sports. Hockey may be Canada's sport, but 24 of 30 NHL teams are based in the United States.

So as I watch the end of the game, with the Calgary Stampeders leading the Montreal Alouettes 22 to 14 with a minute to go, I'm proud of the fact there's a game and a trophy that's in Canada, and will always stay that way.

To boldly go...

2008-11-16T21:34:00.000-04:00

Apologies for the different fonts over the last posts. Blogger has been rather unco-operative with me the past few days. Hopefully, this will be the standard from now on.

Anyway...

I watched the new trailer for the upcoming Star Trek film. The Movie Blog (www.themovieblog.com) had a link to a recorded copy of the trailer. I guess it's playing in front of the new Bond flick. In any event, the quality was pretty good, and I took a peek. If you want to watch the high quality version, it'll be posted on www.startrekmovie.com sometime tomorrow.

I'm a pretty big Trek fan, though not on the level of the people who dress up and attend conventions all over the world. I'm a fan of the various series, and the films. And I'll admit, when I heard J.J. Abrams was taking on the newest film, and it would be based in the time of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, I was intrigued. Once I found out it would be a reboot, I was sold. I'd felt, like many others, the franchise had gotten a bit stale, and there wasn't much room to grow. The latest series, Enterprise, had begun to renew my interest when it was cancelled in 2005. I thought Enterprise was taking the franchise in an interesting direction, but it didn't get a chance to really get going.

So I guess you could say I'm a bit excited about the new film. Even more so with the new trailer. Hopefully the film won't disappoint. And hopefully it'll be welcomed by the hardcore Trekkies, who might be a little miffed with someone other than William Shatner in the role of Kirk.

Live long and prosper.

'Tis the season?

2008-11-14T21:12:00.000-04:00

So I've noticed something recently. Christmas. You know that holiday on December 25th? The one where you give and receive gifts wrapped in shiny paper. Where you gather with family and friends and eat turkey and pie (lots of pie). In the case of some people, it's a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Of course, the most important thing in all that is the date. December 25th. So how is it I find myself on November 15th, a full 40 days before Christmas, covering events in Woodstock relating to that holiday? 40 days out, there is now a town Christmas tree. 40 days out, there are lights and decorations up all over town. And 40 days out, local merchants are selling Christmas knickknacks. Some (like that behemoth Wal-Mart) have been selling Christmas-related items for even longer.

I was talking to my mom the other day. She told me the mall in Saint John has already started piping Christmas music through the sound system.

The holiday seasons are running right together now. And it's not a recent phenomenon. I just finished reading a collection of columns by former CBS anchor Dan Rather, and one of them lamented the way holidays just run one into another. There's no gap. The Christmas "season" starts sometime in late October-early November. In my mind, the season should start in the first week of December. No Christmas specials should be permitted to air on television, no holiday music should be allowed on the radio, no decorations should be allowed, and no Christmas merchandise should be on display and for sale, until that first week of December.

Maybe that makes me a scrooge or a grinch, but I think people would enjoy and appreciate the Christmas season more if it didn't drag on for so long. I know I'm starting to get a little sick of it by the time the 25th rolls around.

So let it be known, here and now on this blog. The Christmas season should be limited to the month of December. Enjoy the fall, watch some hockey or football. Once December 1st hits, then you can go nuts to your heart's content. Don't force it down our throats so early.

...And awaaaaaaaaaaaay we go!

2008-11-12T19:27:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm going to try this out again.

I started a blog about four years ago, right around the time the 2004 presidential election was getting underway. I started out with the intention of writing commentary on news items of the day, and for awhile, that's what I did. But it gradually evolved, and became something more personal. I found out a girl I had a crush on felt the same way. I wrote about my goals in life, and about family trips.

But sometime in the last year or so, it tailed off for me. I'm not sure why. I don't know if it was a case of losing interest in writing, or if it I just simply couldn't put the time into the posts I wanted to. It came to a head when I promised to write a detailed post (or posts) about a family vacation to Florida last Christmas. Well, June rolled around, and I'd been pecking away at it for months. I finally got the first half posted. As for the second half...well, let's just say it finds itself in that blog purgatory known as the draft post.

I just stopped writing. And now I find I miss it. Not the exercise of writing per se, since I write everyday in my job. I'm a reporter with a local weekly paper in New Brunswick. I write all the time about all sorts of things, but none of it is for myself, or necessarily about what I want. I've missed that simple pleasure of writing about some random thing. But this time, I'm going to try something a little different from before. Rather than trying to write long posts two or three times a week, I'm going to write short blurbs several times through the day. Whenever the mood strikes me, whenever I'm exposed to some interesting piece of information I feel like sharing with whoever reads this blog, I'll write a post. All the blogs I read on a regular basis, or have read in the past, seem to find success this way. "Short snappers", as one of my journalism profs was fond of calling them.

As for my old blog, I feel I owe it to myself to finish off the final post, about a trip to Florida that took place almost a year ago now. It's unfortunate it had to die the way it did, but I just took it in a direction I couldn't sustain any longer. So as soon as I finish that final post, I will probably shut The Readme File down. I don't want to say it's a definite thing. I may post to it at irregular intervals, and maybe someday I'll be able to bring it back to what it was four years ago.

So welcome to this new verbal journey I've decided to embark upon. I hope you'll enjoy it, and maybe even learn something along the way. If nothing else, it will offer a mindless distraction for you throughout your day.

-BT